It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered, 'At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand'. 'Never!' said Peter 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus replied, 'If I do not wash you, you can have nothing common with me'. 'Then, Lord,' said Simon Peter 'not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!' Jesus said, 'No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.' He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, 'though not all of you are'. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. 'Do you understand' he said 'what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.

Introductory Prayer: Everything Jesus thought, said and did was directed by one intention; to lead all people to his heavenly Father. His whole life was an open book revealing who God is.
 
Petition: Lord, grant me the tiniest spark from the fire that blazes in your heart, to set my own heart on fire and bring me to give myself as generously as you.

1. With their eyes. For the disciples Jesus Christ was no ordinary man. He commanded wind and water, he was the healer of sickness, demons cringed before him, no man's heart was hidden from his piercing glance... In a word Jesus Christ was for them the Messiah, the Son of God.
So when Christ rose from the table and went to each of them, stooping to wash their feet, the apostles remained dumbfounded. They were men from a world where the great ones made their greatness felt, but now they were learning first hand that it was to be different among them.
 
2. Lord, will you wash my feet? Silently the bewildered disciples permitted the master to stoop down, unfasten their sandals and cleanse their feet in the basin of water which he carried. One by one he went down the line, not saying anything, knowing that no words were needed for the message that he was giving them.

Peter was down the line. He thought about what he would say when Christ came to him. He wanted to say something that would show his respect and love for Christ, that would reflect his fidelity and devotion. He had time to think how extraordinary Christ's action was. Lord, Will you wash my feet? Little did he understand at that moment that love required meant to follow the Master wherever he would lead.

3. He came not to be served but to serve. If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me. Christ's words stung Peter's impetuous heart as they did on the occasion when Christ told him, "Get behind me Satan". At that time Peter had been trying to convince the master that he should not suffer and die. This time he was trying to turn Jesus from doing his Father's will - to serve and not to be served - again, although more subtly.

It would take Peter some time to understand this lesson and that he, as a follower of Christ, was called to walk in his master's footsteps. Christ came to serve. As we follow the Holy Week liturgy, it will only become more and more apparent that he is came on earth to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Am I ready to follow him?

Conversation: Lord Jesus, I behold you stooped, washing the feet of your disciples. I also want to be clean. And Lord, I want to follow your example. Help me to stoop beside you and humble myself as you did, serving othres. Help me to stay close beside you as we relive the days in which you gave your life as a ransom for me and for all my brothers and sisters.
 
Questionnaire:

1. Am I willing to give up everything in order to follow Christ unencumbered? What do I still hold onto?

2. What lessons from the life of Christ do I find hardest to assimilate and imitate?

3. Who is it hardest for me to serve? How can I come down from my pedestal today to follow Christ's example of humble service?